SAN DIEGO – Strikeforce lightweight K.J. Noons (11-4 MMA, 3-2 SF) is no stranger to a little in-cage conversation, but it’s generally laced with a few R-rated phrases and a mother reference or two.

So when Noons and Billy Evangelista started jawing at each other in the third round of their back-and-forth “Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Masvidal” contest, it didn’t seem out of the realm of possibility that expletives were coming hard and heavy.

However, Noons said he and Evangelista weren’t making threats. They were making a deal.

“It seems like a lot of my fights there’s always talking in the ring, but this one wasn’t [expletive]-talking,” Noons told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) following his unanimous-decision win in San Diego. “I think he felt like it was close. The last 30 seconds, he said, ‘Let’s just stand and bang and give the fans a fight.’ I said, ‘Really?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ He goes, ‘No takedowns.’ I said, ‘You promise? OK.'”

Sure enough, the two slugged it out until the final bell, and while Evangelista had claimed the opening frame on all three judges’ cards, Noons battled back to claim the final two, earning the unanimous-decision nod.

Noons, who often relies almost exclusively on his boxing skills, added in a few kicks during the 15-minute contest and before the deal was struck had also worked to take the fight to the floor. It was a complete effort from Noons in the card’s unofficial “Fight of the Night,” and the former EliteXC champ admitted it was a much-needed result following back-to-back losses to Jorge Masvidal and Nick Diaz.

“I felt like I hurt him a couple of times, but the guy’s tough – he kept coming forward,” Noons said. “It feels good to win, especially coming off of a couple of losses. I really changed my camp up, and we had a new gameplan this fight because you’ve got to win. It’s about winning.

“I’ve been going in lately just wanting to put on a good show all the time. I’ve got to win some, so it felt good to win.”

Like just about every fighter on the Strikeforce roster, Noons’ next move isn’t completely clear. He’s capable of competing in two divisions and does have a penchant for exciting fights, but even with a new broadcast deal in place, the Strikeforce promotion still feels as if it’s in some sort of odd transition period.

Noons doesn’t seem too worried about what comes next. Basking in the glow of a hard-fought win, the 29-year-old said he’s up for anything.

“I’ll just take whoever Strikeforce throws at me,” Noons said. “I put on fights for the fans. Every single time, no matter who I fight, whether they’re the best or whatever, I always put on the best fight of the night – every time. I just want to get better as a fighter and put on more exciting fights.

“You’re going to get your money’s worth when K.J. Noons shows up, no matter what. I’ll fight anybody at any weightclass, and I’ll put on a good show, but I want to be the best. I’m ready to get back on this winning streak and put on good shows.”

Mousasi’s impressive win could net title shot

One of the biggest surprises of Saturday night’s fight card was Gegard Mousasi (32-3-2 MMA, 3-1-1 SF), who channeled the soul of a Division I wrestler en route to a unanimous-decision win over highly touted prospect Ovince St. Preux (11-5 MMA, 4-1 SF). Mousasi was the favorite heading into the matchup, but many MMA pundits picked St. Preux to score a minor upset by following a gameplan laid by Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal and Keith Jardine: exploit Mousasi’s wrestling deficiencies.

Except, at least on this night, they didn’t seem to exist.

“I’ve been working on wrestling and fighting against the cage,” Mousasi said. “I believe he got only one takedown. I think I am good at scrambling even better now. If they take me down, I can get up. Also, on the bottom, I feel like I can always protect myself. I don’t get in very much danger.”

Mousasi looked as if he was going to stop the fight in the first round, and he continued to control in the second. If there was a critique to be made, it’s that Mousasi slowed in the third and allowed St. Preux to climb back into a fight he had no business winning. Mousasi admits he was disappointed in his efforts over the final five minutes.

“I could have done better in the last round, I think,” Mousasi said. “I think I should have trained a little more serious.”

With Dan Henderson now fighting under the UFC banner, Strikeforce’s light heavyweight title is currently vacant. While he wouldn’t make a firm committment, Coker hinted that Mousasi, a former champ, may factor into the re-issuing of that belt, with the winner of the Jan. 7 contest between Lawal and Lorenz Larkin as the prime candidate for an opponent.

“I think the fight we had tonight definitely had title implications for that championship belt,” Coker said. “Then on Jan. 7, we’ve got the fight between ‘King Mo’ and Lorenz Larkin which will have title implications, as well. It hasn’t been decided, but I think that’s kind of the path it’s headed in.”

“The Future” has now scored five wins in 17 months on the Strikeforce roster, but Saturday’s was unquestionably the most important to date.

“I feel real good,” Fodor said following the win. “I wasn’t expecting that fight to go like that. I was ready for a three-round battle. I’m just happy I pulled out the win. I just plan on keep going and keep busting out some wins.”

Terry was expected to feature in the lightweight title picture had he picked up a win, but he’ll have to go to the back of the line. Meanwhile, Fodor headlined this past June’s Strikeforce Challengers 16 event but remains relatively unknown to most casual MMA fans.

Thoughts of a title shot might be a little ambitious for the 27-year-old at this point, but the AMC Pankration product and Marine won’t turn down the opportunity if given a chance.

“I’d like to keep winning,” Fodor said. “If Strikeforce feels I’m ready for that title shot, I will come prepared, and I will be a worthy opponent.

“A lot of people thought that if Justin beat me, he would get a title shot, so I think beating him secured my position among the top guys. I’d like to continue to fight guys and keep winning and getting better.”

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.